Expansion clasp for bracelets and the like



March 31,- 1931. H. HARTMAN ET AL 1,793,602

EXPANSION CLASP FQR BRACELETS ANETHE LIKE Filed March 5, 1950 fhveh 'fors Harry /rarman Jse//a A. Browne bf M v l JWM A orheys Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY IIABTMAN AND JOSEIIIA BEowNE, E LoS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; SAID BEowNE ASSIGNon 'ro SAID IIAETMAN EXPANSION CLASP Eon BRACELETS AND THE LIKE Application led March 1930. Serial No'. 433,413.

Our invention pertains particularly to the manner of the expansion of chain links in a clasp whereby the clasp may be opened and the links extended to allow 'fitting the brace- I let over the hand and then the links may be folded to t inside of the clasp.

An object of our invention is the construction of a Clasp having a hinge whereby the lid of the clasp maybe tilted open and a series of folding links which are held in the clasp may be extended. The chain of the bracelet is connected to the clasp at one end and to one of the folding links at the other end so that when the clasp is opened and the links are fullyextended the bracelet may readily be slipped over the hand, then'the links are folded together and the clasp closed, thus holding the bracelet. tight around the wrist. This type of bracelet may be used for wrist watches or the like.

One of the. features of our invention is in the manner of attaching the one chain end -to the clasp So that the pull on the Claspl operates'to hold the clasp tightly closed and avoid accidental opening. Another feature is in the use of a slip link which may slide longitudinally in the clasp and thus facilitate-unlatching of the bracelet without the necessity of having a large number of folding links.

Another detail feature of our invention is having one or more of the links made with double link strips and adjustable to shift to different positions to form an extension link whereby this extension link may be shortened or lengthened and thus give a fine ad- 'ustment'to fit the wrist snugly when the racelet is folded.

Our invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the expansion clasp in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the clasp of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a plan of thel Clasp with the links extended and the cover removed;

Fig. 4 isa longitudinal section of the expanded links of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, the clasp is designated generally by the numeral Y 11. This has a channel-shaped base `12 having a web section 13 to fit against the wrist and two marginal ianges 14. Each of these flanges has an inturned sectional rim 15. The web 13 is made in a slight arc of a circle and the flanges 14 are concentric with the curvature of the web. The cover 16 of the clasp has a top section 17 and two inwardly extending flanges 18. The iia-nges 18 and the flanges 14 are connected by a pintle pin 19 at one end.

A feature of our invention is the inwardly turned end 20 of the cover which is attached to a short link 21 and this latter if desired to a longer link 22 at one end of the chain.r The chain is usually made of similar types of links which extend completely around the wrist, or'if a wrist watch is used the chains have devices for attaching to the wrist watch. The opposite end of the flanges 18 havea .notch 23 for a purpose hereinunder detailed.

We employ a slip link 24 which has a pair of slots 25 therethrough; these slots being engaged by inwardly extending tongues 26 which are pressed inwardly of the clasp from the web section 131-and bent over, thus guiding the link 24. Thislink follows the curvature of the web 13. A fixed link 27 is secured to the link 24 by a hinge 28, allowing folding of the link 27 on top of the link 24 and when partly folded the link 27 has a curvature Con- Centric with theweb"13 and also the curval. ture of the link 24. An extension link 29 is formed of an inner strap 30 and an outer strap 31. The inner strap is connected to the link 27 by a hinge 32. The outer strap isillustrated as having three counter-sunk perforations 33 therethrough and the inner strap is illustrated as having four Screw threaded perforations 34 and there are two screws-35 with counter-sunk heads which may be se cured in two of the aligned perforations 33 P and 34. Thus by Changing the screws the link 29 may be extended slightly.

This link has an inwardly turned end 36 which is indicated as having an eye 37 which attaches to a short link 38 similar to the Short link 21 and the rest of the chainl may have alternately a long link 39 corresponding to the link 22 and a series of short links corresponding to the links 21 or 38. When the links occupy the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which it will be noted that the slip link 24 is pulled out until the ends of the slots engaging the tongues 26 limit the outward pull.

If it is desired to give additional adjustment the screws 35 may be removed and inserted in different perforations in order to lengthen the extension. Manifestly if in the first place this link is too long, it may. be shortened. In housing the extension part of the bracelet the slip link 24 is slid into its housing in the lower part of the clasp and the link 27 is then hinged over the link 24. Then the extension link naturally occupies a position on top of the link 27. All of the links when housed slip underneath the sectional rim 15 and are thus snugly held in the lower part of the clasp housing.. The pintle of the hinge 28 has end extensions 40 which are engaged by the notches 23 on the side flanges 18 of the cover part of the clasp. This engagement is such that the pull on the clasp by the chains at each end tends to tighten the locking of the cover on the base part of the clasp. IWhen the extension folding links are housed in the clasp they occupy the position shown in Fig. 2. Various changes may be m'ade in the principles of our invention without departing from the spirit thereof as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

We claim:

1. In an extension clasp, a base portion and a cover portion pivotally connected together, a chain attached to the cover portion, a plurality of folding links one of which is attached to the base portion, said links when folded fitting in the base portion, a chain attached to the endmost link, and means to vary the length of at least one of the folding links, the link connected tothe base portion of the clasp having a sliding connection therewith.

2. In an extension clasp, a base and a cover hingedly connected together, a plurality of links, one of which has a sliding connection with the base and said links being hingedly connected together to fold upon one another after the slip link is slid into the base, means in the base to retain the links in folded position and the said cover being adapted to encase the said links in the base, and a chain end attached to the cover and another chain end attached to one of the links, the means to retain the folded links in the base comprising a sectional rim portion on the base adapted to engage the links when folded and slid b ase.

into the base.

3. In an extension' clasp, a channel-shaped a. slidable link connected to the base,

means to limit the outward sliding movement thereof, a second link hinged to the slidable link and adapted to fold thereover, the base having side ianges with inwardly turned sectional rims adapted to engage the folded links,

said ylinks being a cover vhinged to the base and` adapted to enclose the said folded links, a first chain end connected to the cover and means to connect Vture with inwardly extending anges with notches therein and the hinged connection of the slidable link and the second link having an extended pintle, such extensions adapted to fit in the said notches.

5. In an extension clasp, a base, a cover hinged to the base,'a slip link having longituv dinal slots therein, tongues secured to the base and fitting in the said slots forming a guide and a limit to the sliding movement of the slip link, the cover being adapted to house the slip link when telescoped in the base, a first chain end connected to the cover, a plurality of links hinged together, having one of such links hingedly connected to the slip link a second chain end connected to the link most reiiiote from the slip link, said remote link being extensible and being formed in at least two parts with means to adjust the relative position of such parts.

6. In an extension clasp, base having tongues thereon, a slip link having slots therein connected to the base by said tongues on the base extending through the slots, said tongues forming a limitv to the sliding motion of the slip link, a second link hinged to the sl'ip link and a third link hinged to the second link, the second linkfolding over the slip link and the third link over the second, link, the base having side flanges with sectional rims to retain said links in a folded position, a cover hinged to the base and having a first chain end connected thereto and a second chain end connected to the third link.

7 In an extension clasp as claimed in claim 6, the third link being formed of a pair of strap-like sections superposed one on .the other and having a plurality'of perforations with screws toadjust said strap-like sections by engaging the screws in different perforations.

8. In an extension clasp, a base, a plurality of links hingedly connected together and one a channel-shapedA of which is secured to the base, one of said j hinges having a pintle with extensions thereon, a. cover hinged to the base and having inwardly extending flanges with `notches to accommodate the said extensions of the pintle, a first chain end connected to the cover and a second chain end connected to one of the links most remote when extended from the 9. In 'an extension clasp, a base, a cover hinged thereto, a slip link slidably connected to the base, a second link hinged to the slip link, a third link hinged to the second link, foldable upon one another after the slip link is slid into the base, the cover being adapted to extend over the folded links, a rst chain end connected to the cover` und a second chain end connected to the third link.

l0. In an extension clasp, a base, a coverl hinged thereto, aV slip link sldably connected to the base, a second link hinged to the slip link, a third link hinged to the second link, said links being foldable upon one another after the slip link is slid into the base to extend over the folded links, a rst chain end connected to the cover and a second chain end connected to the third link.

1l. In an extension clasp as claimed in claim 10, one of the said links being formed in two parts to form an extension, and means to adjustably connect said two parts together.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

HARRY HARTMAN. JOSEPH A. BROWNE. 

